Some practice in translation

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The subject and tasks of the science
Translation is a peculiar type of communication – inter-lingual communication. The goal of translation is to transform a text in the Source Language into a text in the Target Language. This means that the message produced by the translator should call forth a reaction from the TL receptor similar to that called forth by the original message from the SL receptor. The content, that is, the referential meaning of the message with all its implications and the form of the message with all its emotive connotations and stylistic connotations must be reproduced as fully as possible in the translation as they are to evoke a similar response. While the content remains relatively intact, the form, that is, the linguistic signs of the original, may be substituted or replaced by other signs of the TL because of structural differences at all levels. Such substitutions are justified; they are functional and aim at achieving equivalence.
Equivalent texts in the two languages are not necessarily made up of semantically identical signs and grammatical structures and equivalence should not be confused with identity.
Equivalence
Equivalence is the reproduction of a SL text by TL means. Equivalence is not a constant but a variable quantity and the range of variability is considerable. The degree of equivalence depends on the linguistic means used in the SL texts and on the functional style to which the text belongs, e.g.:
Early December brought a brief respite when temperatures fell and the ground hardened, but a quick thaw followed.
В начале декабря наступила краткая передышка, температура понизилась, земля замерзла, но потом быстро началась оттепель.
The messages conveyed by the original and the translation are equivalent as every semantic element has been retained although some changes have been made in strict conformity with the standards and usage of the Russian language.